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Author
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Topic: Ragallo wing inventor F. Ragallo (1912-2009)
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-12-2009 12:42 AM
   
From Wikipedia: Francis M. Rogallo (January 27, 1912 - September 1, 2009) was an American aeronautical engineer inventor born in Sanger, California; he is credited with the invention of the Rogallo wing, or "flexible wing", a precursor to the modern hang glider and paraglider. His patents ranged over mechanical utility patents and ornamental design patents for wing controls, airfoils, target kite, flexible wing, and advanced configurations for flexible wing vehicles.
The Parasev: The Paresev (Paraglider Research Vehicle) was an indirect outgrowth of kite-parachute studies by NACA Langley engineer Francis M. Rogallo. In the early 1960s, the "Rogallo wing" seemed an excellent means of returning a spacecraft to Earth. The delta wing design was patented by Mr. Rogallo. In May 1961, Robert R. Gilruth, director NASA's Space Task Group, requested studies of an inflatable Rogallo-type "Parawing" for spacecraft. Several companies responded; North American Aviation produced the most acceptable concept and development was contracted to that company. In November 1961, NASA Headquarters launched a paraglider development program, with Langley doing wind tunnel studies and the NASA Flight Research Center supporting the North American test program.
Also see, Rogallo's Flexible Wing. |
uk spacefan
Member Posts: 168
From: London
Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 09-12-2009 04:53 AM
I seem to remember that astronaut Jack Swigert was involved in the Rogallo project, though I cannot remember the details. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-12-2009 06:34 AM
There were several types of Parasev tested by NASA. At various times the following pilots flew variations of the wing. - Milton O. Thompson
- Bruce A. Peterson
- Neil A. Armstrong
- Maj. Emil "Jack" Kluever
- Charles "E. P." Hetzel,
- Donald K. Slayton,
- Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom
- Robert A. Champine
In 1965, Jack Swigert also flew a full scale Gemini capsule to a soft landing using a Ragallo designed wing. |
blue_eyes
Member Posts: 165
From: North Carolina, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-12-2009 04:14 PM
There is a wonderful article about Francis Rogallo in the Los Angeles Times that I hope everyone will check out. In the article, Mike Meier's remembrances brought back fond memories of that time period for me personally: Mike Meier was one of my bosses at Wills Wing Hang Gliders where I worked in the early 1980s, and Mike knew Francis Rogallo quite well. So we would hear various great things about Mr. Rogallo through the grapevine at work... and then, working on the construction of new wings daily at Wills Wing was a constant reminder for me of his invention and gift to all of us. In those early days of hang gliding, all of us that flew were called "Rogallo members," and the gliders that we flew were actually called "Rogallo wings." It was a magnificent and exciting time in hang gliding history, not unlike spaceflight's incredible days of Project Mercury. I feel sad that Mr. Rogallo, our father of hang gliding, is gone now. But I'm still awed by the humility and unselfishness that he displayed in his daily life. Personally, I feel like I owe him a lot. Anyway, I'll try to find the old photo I have of the first Rogallo wing that I ever flew and post it here.If anyone is interested, there is to be a memorial service and fun fly in honor of Francis Rogallo Sunday Sept. 20, not far from Kitty Hawk, N.C., where the Wright brothers flew. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-12-2009 04:23 PM
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Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 09-12-2009 04:32 PM
Sorry to hear of his passing.The "Rogallo Wing" was manufactured for sport use under the name "Delta II Parawing". It was distributed by Para-Flight of Pennsauken, N.J. I know he worked with Dave Barish a lot the project. The Rogallo Wing was something he was very proud of. Having landed several test jumps in the summer of 1969, at Lakwood N.J. I think it would have worked. |
John Charles
Member Posts: 339
From: Houston, Texas, USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 09-12-2009 05:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
Charles "E. P." Hetzel...
In 1965, Jack Swigert also flew a full scale Gemini capsule to a soft landing using a Ragallo designed wing.
Hetzel and then Swigert and Donald McClusker all test-flew the Rogallo wing from the cockpit of one of two suspended Gemini boilerplate capsules (one now preserved in the Udvar-Hazy annex of the National Air and Space Museum, and the other in the National Museum of Scotland). Swigert and McClusker were apparently awarded the AIAA's Chanute Flight Award in 1966 for their Rogallo-Gemini flights. Funny story: over a year ago, I checked the AIAA Awards site and only McClusker was listed. I sent in a question about Swigert, wondering whether it was their website or all of his NASA biographies that were in error. Eventually, AIAA corrected the oversight. But now, only Swigert -- but not McClusker -- is listed! Anyone want to take another run at getting them both listed? ------------------
John Charles
Houston, Texas |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 09-12-2009 06:25 PM
Im sure I read somewhere that Rogallo gave the patent for the wing design to NASA, then many years later NASA decided to actually pay him for it (or something to that effect). I believe the design originated from a kite he made for his kids.. |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 09-13-2009 08:21 AM
.J M Busby
Aerospace Legacy Foundation |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-13-2009 10:08 AM
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 09-14-2009 06:32 AM
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Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 09-14-2009 09:07 AM
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kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 09-14-2009 11:06 AM
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cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-14-2009 01:27 PM
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AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 09-14-2009 05:03 PM
I actually have in my collection an index card signed by this great man. I am fascinated by his life and am very sad to hear of his passing.May he Rest in Peace. |
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